The peer-mentoring training day, which took place in Whitland Town Hall on October 10, was a fun and beneficial day for all the Year 12 students who took part in the experience (write Emma Tiller-Cordy and Stephanie Ryder).
Angharad Lewis, Carl Morgan and Anwen Richardson were the three youth workers who organised the training day.
The day commenced with fun ice-breaking games, which encouraged us all to work as a team. We then separated into three groups where we had to decide the meaning of mentoring and the skills needed to be successful. Each group had a spokesperson who fedback their skills to all the groups.
After this we had a supervised group challenge in which we all had to work as a team. The youth leader then put each person into certain categories to show what personal skills we had donated to the group. The personal challenge that followed allowed us to see how important visual communication is.
Next, we had a game of Chinese Whispers, which proved how easy rumours could start and become exaggerated.
We all participated in a working lunch, which was provided by the school canteen staff and included scrumptious delights, which made us feel important and grateful.
An important discussion regarding role models followed - how they influence people's lives. As peer mentors we needed to be aware that we would be seen as role models to young people.
Mrs. Sellick then explained our involvement in the Year Eight Health Day and the importance of our role at Dyffryn Taf. We finished the day by evaluating all the activities.
Overall it was fun-packed and rewarded experience.
EVENING OF ENTERTAINMENT
The Nant-y-ffin Motel and Dyffryn Taf School have come together to offer an excellent evening of entertainment. Come along and see the amazing 'Boogie Nites,' '70s disco band and the fantastic comedian, Paul Daizley, at the Nanty-y-ffin Motel, Llandissilio, on November 8. The evening will start at 7.30 pm 'til late. Tickets cost £7 each. All proceeds from the night will go towards the Learning Support Department of Dyffryn Taf School. We hope that people from the communities serving the school will attend this event to show their support for the very worthwhile work done by the Learning Support Department.
For more information or to order tickets, please contact the school on (01994) 242100.
SCHOOL COUNCIL
The School Council met recently with Claire Parminter, a Police Inspector seconded to Carmarthen CC, to canvas the views of young people about Carmarthenshire's Community Strategy, members of the Youth Service and the Police.
The students expressed their views about the Environment, Health and Well Being, Lifelong Learning, Regeneration and Safer communities.
Issues of particular importance locally will be further discussed by the School Council with Miss Sian Rowlands, the school's newly appointed community officer.
GEOGRAPHY NEWS
Year 10 Geography students visited Swansea recently to study land use zones, residential areas and the regeneration of the lower Swansea valley. They had to sketch and comment on inner city residential areas, suburban areas and map the changing land uses which had taken place in the area of the Marina.
The five parks plan was studied in detail and driving through the Enterprise Park enabled the students to appreciate the clean-up operations completed since the old heavy industries of coal mining and metal working closed down. The lower Swansea Valley is now a pleasant working environment.
It was a very worthwhile day and was educationally very rewarding in the sense that students gained invaluable hands-on experience in the field.
DT NEWS
DT teachers Mr. C. Tippett and Mrs. M. Eynon accompanied Year 12 and 13 students to the All Nations Centre recently. The purpose of the visit was to spend time viewing AS and A Level Product Design Innovative Projects.
The students were able to sketch and record what they saw on digital camera. They could also examine in detail and make notes on projects that were of particular interest to them. Mrs. Eynon attended a lecture given by Mr. David Jones, the project design chief examiner.
The visit certainly inspired the students and gave them plenty of ideas for their own projects.
FUTURE CHEF 2004
The Food Department held the school heat in the above award. The winner was Geraint Vaughan. He will now go on to the next round to be held at Pibwrlwyd College on November 10. We wish Geraint the best of luck and thanks go to Mrs. D. Phillips and Mrs. F. Sellick for guiding him through the competition.
TY HAFAN
The CoEA Food Studies group made butterfly cakes to raise money for Ty Hafan. They sold the cakes during break-time to fellow students and staff and raised a considerable sum of money for their chosen cause. Well done to everyone involved!
DRAMA VISIT
Years 12 and 13 students, accompanied by Year 11 GCSE Drama groups, were privileged to see the 'Legal Weapon' drama production in school recently.
The Chrysalis Theatre Group, who produced the piece, is a county council sponsored venture who have visited the school on a number of previous occasions. On this occasion they presented a Theatre-in-Education piece on dangerous driving. The theatre group presented and performed a very emotive, challenging piece, which was both humorous and tragic.
All our students were touched by the power of the piece and received a strong message about the dangers of speeding. The theatre group finished the session by using the format of a game show to test the students' knowledge of driving statistics.